Chapter Five

Kammy was speaking with a group of magikoopa. She seemed quite angry, but also seemed to be trying to keep a check on her temper.

"That's the council of magikoopa." Anna hissed beside Peach. "This can't be good."

Kammy saw them, and her eyes widened in surprise, probably at the fact that both seemed to be human. She pointed in their direction. "I have come for them. They are run-aways from Koopa Castle."

Vivian regarded her coolly. "They say they are inhabitants of Mushroom Land."

"Then they are lying."

"Why should they lie to us?" Asked one of the council. "There is no reason for deception."

"They lie because they are hiding."

"Can you prove this?" Asked Vivian sharply.

"One of them is a magikoopa. They lie about that as well." Kammy said.

This caused a bit of an uproar. "Why would one of our own deceive us?" Asked another council member.

"Ask her." Kammy retorted.

They turned to stare at the two visitors. Peach swallowed nervously, her heart pounding.

"Which one?" Asked the council member. "Which one is disguised as a human?"

Peach almost laughed when she realized Kammy didn't know either. She stood staring at them, a scowl on her face, uncertain of who was who.

Vivian turned to face them. "Drop your disguise." She said.

Peach shook her head. "We won't."

Anna nodded in agreement.

Out of nowhere, another magikoopa appeared. Peach gulped when she realized it was Kamek. He stood perfectly still, his hands clasped in front of him, his robes rustling slightly from what might have been a breeze from wherever he had come. He waited for Kammy to realize he was behind her.

"You!" Kammy wheeled around to face him. "You did this!"

"What?" He asked innocently, though Peach thought she heard irritation in his voice.

"Helped them escape!"

"Me?" Kamek asked. "I am far too busy to concern myself with two humans."

"These two humans are none other than Princess Toadstool and your apprentice. You let them escape."

"I am curious to hear how I did this." Kamek replied.

Kammy glared at him for a moment, then turned her attention back to Peach and Anna. "You!" She snapped, pointing at Anna.

"M-me?" Anna replied nervously.

"Yes, you. How did you two escape?"

Anna was silent, staring at the ground. Peach could see she was shaking.

"Yes," spoke Kamek quietly, "how did you escape, Anna?"

Anna looked up at Kamek in shock. She took a deep breath, then answered -him, not her. "A yellow ninjakoopa said he had come to rescue me, but would take us both if he didn't know which one of us was which." As she spoke, she had dropped her disguise.

"A yellow ninjakoopa?" Kammy asked. "Who commands a yellow ninjakoopa, Kamek? You did help them escape. King Koopa will be most displeased."

"If one of my subordinates chose to interfere in the plans of King Koopa, it was not by my order, Kammy, and I will deal with him later."

"And what about her?" Kammy shrieked, pointing at Anna. "She is a traitor, Kamek! Unless she was acting under your orders!"

Peach wondered briefly if it were possible that Anna had allowed her to escape under orders. She hoped not. But if she had been acting of her own free will, then that meant she was a traitor of sorts.

Vivian spoke. "Was she following your orders, Kamek? Or acting against them?"

Anna went pale, and Peach wondered what it was that Vivian had said to worry her so.

Kamek was silent.

"She was following orders, wasn't she, Kamek?" Kammy shrieked. "You told her to help the princess escape!"

Vivian spoke again. "You would be wise to let the council handle this, Kammy." There was a note of warning in her voice. "We will not stand by silently while you two continue arguing."

Kanri spoke up. Peach started, for she had not realized that he was there. "The two you have come for, Kammy, are welcome visitors to our village. Therefore, the council will decide what is to be done with them."

He turned to face Kamek. "Did you or did you not order this magikoopa to assist this human in escaping Koopa Castle?"

Kamek glanced briefly at Anna. "I did not."

"Then she was acting of her own free will?"

"Yes." Kamek nodded sharply.

"What were your orders concerning the human?"

"She was to guard the Princess in her quarters."

"The Princess was to stay in her quarters, then?"

"Yes."

"And she was to guard the Princess?"

"Yes."

"Then she went directly against your orders." This last was not actually a question.

"Yes." Kamek said.

Kanri turned to Peach. "You are the Princess Toadstool?" He asked.

"Yes, sir." Peach replied.

"At this time, you were being held in a room?"

Peach nodded.

"And this magikoopa," he gestured toward Anna, "was there to keep an eye on you."

Peach nodded again.

"And she helped you escape?"

"Yes."

"Do you have any reason to believe she was acting under anyone's orders?"

"No." Peach said, staring at the ground.

He turned to Anna. "What is your name?"

"Anna, sir." Her voice was calm this time.

"You were in Kamek's service?"

"Yes, sir. I was studying magic under his instruction."

"And as his student, did you not swear your loyalty to him?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you assisted the Princess Toadstool in escaping, in spite of the fact that you were under orders to guard her?"

"Yes."

"The council will decide what is to be done." Kanri said at last. "In the meantime-"

"In the meantime," interrupted a magikoopa robed in white, "if it please the council, they shall rest at my house, for it must be wearisome for those unaccustomed to such goings on to stand and listen to this debate all day."

"You open up your home to these strangers? All of them?" Kanri asked.

"If it please the council, they will be safe there until a decision regarding Anna and the Princess Toadstool has been reached."

"Are you confident these two" he motioned towards Kamek and Kammy "will not cause trouble?"

A wicked grin crossed the magikoopa's features. "You have my word, Kanri."

"Very well, then."

This new magikoopa looked them all over. "This way, then." She said sternly, and led them down the street to a house on the outskirts of the village.

"Aren't they worried about anyone escaping?" Peach asked Anna in a whisper.

Anna shook her head. "It would not be a good idea."

The magikoopa led them inside. As they entered the house, she called out, "Malachi! We have guests! Set out four more places at the table."

A green robed magikoopa entered the living room. "Ah!" He exclaimed. "Family and friends are always welcome, even when bringing trouble with them." He turned to Anna. "Good to see you again, my daughter."